Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Stevens
Hi Lena, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always wanted to do hair. I remember being a little girl and my mother not doing styles i liked, so i decided to take it into my own hands. I would call my older cousin and ask her to walk me through certain styles i wanted to try and just started doing them on myself. In high school i would do some friends hair as well as family friends. I started working a long side a traveling natural hair stylist and was able to learn alot of natural hairstyles.I knew as soon as i graduated i wanted to go to master cosmetology school. Not only did i want to go to master cosmetology school i wanted to go in atlanta; a mecca in the hair industry. Being from PG county Maryland i felt i wouldn’t get all the knowledge and exposure i was looking for in my education of hair. As soon as i graduated high school in 2015 i moved down to Georgia to stay with my Aunt and cousins, so i may attend Aveda. My hair was always red so i got the name Redd when i got to hair school and it has stuck with me during my professional career. Most people know me as Redd Thee Braider.I truly was able to enjoy my experience due to my amazing teachers Ms.Trivius who became like a mother to me through the journey and my auntie Mimi Ms. Michelle.While i was in school i found myself losing my passion for hair and it discouraged me some. During the course another student taught me how to do a basic cornrow, and from that moment my passion for hair sparked again. It brought me back to when i was doing more natural and textured hair. Upon completing school i started working at a braid shop Owned by Ms.Eva who has been an immense part of my hair journey. She not only taught me techniques of braiding but also the business side of things. Her encouragement and support and most importantly love for me has grown me into the braider i am today. I have taken those skills and grown them into my own with my own style. I was at her shop grace hair salon for nearly 7 years growing my craft. Unfortunately one day there was a fire at the shop and i was faced with a decision whether i wanted to continue working for someone at their shop or taking a a leap of faith on myself and growing a brand of my own. I decided on the latter and began working for myself full time! I started working from home and traveling to my client’s. I pride myself on making my clients experience as comfortable and relaxed as possible. I want when someone sits in my chair to emerge with a new sense of confidence and reassurance in themselves. That is why my business is Thee Phoenix Effect. I not only have been able to reinvent myself but continue to do so and come back even stronger. I continue to educate myself on new techniques and styles to be able to give my clients and myself the very best quality. I love connecting with other stylist and braiders! There’s so many different ways to get to the same result, everyone has their own way of doing things therefore we learn alot from eachother.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It certainly hasnt been smooth. I struggled with keeping my passion for hair while in school. Although i found it again when i started doing braiding learning the dynamics if being in a shop was hard at times. Being the youngest employee and being put in a managerial position was hard at times. I felt some of the women didn’t feel i could show them anything since theyve been doing it alot longer than me and off life experience in general. Dealing with other people’s personalities and being responsible for then became alot until i realized i just wanted to work on my craft and not have the pressure of having to lead others. I think that was an important lesson i had to learn at the time, of what i truly wanted to do an focus on so i stepped down to do that. Another challenge i faced was having a job in a salon and the next day the salon being lost in a fire. At the time i was scared to step out on my own, i didn’t know if i was ready. I didn’t have alot of my own personal clientele so i was basically starting from scratch.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I chose braiding because i felt like it was so much you can do with it! I could be as creative as i wanted. I took pride in learning many techniques and offer many different services. I love the cleanliness of stitch braiding! It just elevates any style even the simplest. I would say i specialize in knotless braiding, i take pride in having nice crisp parts. Those are probably the styles i do the most aside from slick ponytails,sew-ins, crochet braids, twists, and loc styles!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of My favorite childhood memories would have to be the days i would call my older cousin and tell her how much i wanted to do hair and she would walk me thru the process of how to do a certain style! The support i got from her and my aunt and mom fueled me to work hard for what i wanted to be
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theephoenixeffect.booksy.com/a/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theephoenixeffect/profilecard/?igsh=Z2R6aGxmNm90Z3c1
